Church teaching (letter)

Church teaching (letter)

Carmel Pittari

Is there a difference between the "openness" Pope John Paul II
urges us to have and having an "open mind"? I believe there is. The
Holy Father encourages us to have respect for the uniqueness and
dignity of all people based on their being created in the "image
and likeness of God". He asks us to respect all religions and every
person's right to freely choose his or her religion - even to
choose no religion at all.

An "open mind" - how are we to use it? Does not G.K. Chesterton
hit the nail on the head when he says: "The object of an open mind,
as of an open mouth, is to shut it tight on something solid".

Is not our "something solid" the rock of Peter? Do we not
believe that the Holy Spirit guides the Church in truth? Are not
the Church's teachings, including those on marriage and sexuality,
good and true and solid? Do they not set us free to love God and
our neighbour? If so, then do we confidently propose them to our
young people?

The Holy Father urges young people to remain chaste before
marriage. He encourages married couples to preserve the unitive and
procreative aspect of the sexual.

He warns young people that if they take the path of chastity,
they may become martyrs for Christ for the "world" will laugh at
them, ridicule them, isolate them or ignore them. The new
martyrdom, he says, will be bloodless but no less painful. He says
not to be afraid because they can draw strength to overcome the
"world" for Christ.

We are aware that many young people choose to cohabit before
they marry. Is it good enough for us to relativise and suggest that
because so many do this then, for some reason, it is good, true and
solid?

If our young people are cohabiting before marriage, could it be
because the "voice" of the "world" is louder than the voice of
Christ and they cannot hear him? Have we, unwittingly perhaps,
prevented our young people from "encountering" Christ just as the
crowd prevented the blind Bartimaeus from approaching him?

I believe that our young people today, as always and in every
time and place, need just "a little help from a friend". This
person is Christ. If we are to lead our young people to Christ, we
ourselves need to know where he "lives".